In a powerful demonstration of how “Service Above Self” can transcend borders, the International Committee of the Rotary Club of Camas-Washougal has surpassed a major milestone: providing over $75,000 in loans to small businesses and individual entrepreneurs in developing nations.
Through a strategic partnership with the global nonprofit [link] Kiva, the club has turned an initial $22,500 investment into a self-sustaining engine for change. Over the past eight years, the club has cycled this capital more than three times, funding 483 separate loans across 39 countries.
Empowering Global Entrepreneurs
Partnering with Kiva, the world’s first online lending program, The Rotary Club of Camas-Washougal’s initiative focuses on the world’s “unbanked” populations, reaching the more than one billion people who lack access to traditional credit. By providing average contributions of $155 toward larger loan requests, the Camas-Washougal team helps provide the capital small businesses need to thrive.
The impact is particularly felt by female entrepreneurs, who represent 73% of the club’s borrowers. These loans aren’t handouts; they are investments in hardworking individuals, giving them the resources they need to expand their efforts to create change for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Stories of Action
In the last six months alone, the club has supported 80 borrowers. Here are a few “People of Action” whose lives have been changed:
- Oceania: In the Solomon Islands, Evalyn, a 55-year-old mother of four, used a loan to purchase materials to expand her thriving tailoring business, helping her fund her children’s education and healthcare.
- Asia: In Pakistan, Rehmat purchased a buffalo to expand her milk-selling business, fulfilling her dream of providing better living conditions for her child.
- Africa: The club partnered with 2,280 other lenders to support Olusheno, a social enterprise in Namibia that provides affordable solar home systems to off-grid rural families. Olusheno’s efforts have already provided sustainable lighting to over 31,500 households, with this loan giving them the critical funding to reach an additional 5,000 homes.
- South America: In Peru, the Lorohuachana Al Progresso Group received funding for instructional materials. One member, a primary teacher named Soraida, is using the support to pursue her dream of opening her own school.
- Central America: In El Salvador, Elda Esperanza, a single mother and housekeeper, received a loan to maintain her corn crops and is now working toward her dream of opening a local grocery store.
A Team Effort
This global reach is made possible by a dedicated local team. Led by coordinator Max Hall, the Camas-Washougal Kiva team includes Cath Alvey (Central America), Steve Bourque (South America), Scott Berry (Africa), Dana McGuire (Middle East and Oceania), and Dave Bussman (Asia).
By connecting local resources with global needs, these Rotarians are proving that financial inclusion is a powerful tool for tackling inequality and helping underserved communities thrive., and financial education programs for families in rural areas.